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Being in a service industry dealing with estates has unique challenges. Our staff makes every effort to address the dynamic features of each house. Our new clients are often surprised at the three page contract and hour long intake that goes with enlisting the services of Trustee Help, Inc. Some unique features of working with us can show up in the expectation of what it takes to move an entire household. We have the experience that shows moving and liquidating a house takes a little more time than when moving a household from one location to another. Our efforts to get a full household to a good disposition means that it will take some time. The nuances that surround the labor effort of moving is both art and a science. We provide a process that allows our clients to track our progress, review and if needed change the scope of work.

When you need the contents of your loved one’s home managed in a mindful way, contact Trustee Help, Inc.

I could go on and on about the amount of wasted food and spices from the houses we clear out. And we do our best to donate unexpired, unopened food. As a practice in my own household we have designated times to look through the dry food area and the refrigerator freezer. We buy fabulous spices for our favorite foods. So lets not waste those well meaning purchases. Let’s use them up and savor the wonderful flavors that we love.

When I go for a hike I am grateful for the sign posts that provide the mileage and direction of each trail. Just that little bit of information gives me comfort that I am heading in a direction that I want.

……When I start working in a person’s home I quickly get a sense of the information they gave to the person who took over their estate. I witness how much work to be organized was done before their death.

……Recently, during a conversation someone asked me about an account I have. I was immediately puzzled and a little shocked; I could not recall how to access it or where to access it. Wow! Wait! Really!!! Yes, its true. Later I found the file and the website, passwords ect. And yet, what a great reminder. Who much work will I put into giving my successor trustee the information they need to do the work that I have asked them to do.

So what does a trail sign post, my forgotten account and the work I do have in common? The fact that information transfer is a vital part of our life.

Its energy, effort, and work to assemble the information. We all have so many accounts and processes that is just a part of living. Want ideas on how to organize those pieces of information? Ask your attorney, send Trustee Help an email request or check out Caring Is Not Enough…whatever you do, do something.

An inventory creates a tool to have accountability of what is in the estate. Usually this is the first thing we do for a client. Its an efficient way to manage the household and personal belongings. It answers the question, “what happened to…..?” or “how much is …..worth?” And in the midst of liquidating a home this becomes a really important question for a trustee or fiduciary to answer.

You may not be in the situation of having to manage a trust. So, consider doing an inventory of your own home. Its a good way to gauge the insurance needs you may have. Or what if your parent is about to get home care? How about knowing what is in the home?

I encourage you to think about an inventory and the power it can bring to so many situations. Trustee Help has the knowledge and expertise to help. Call for more information 408-489-9558.

Our company focuses on the tangible things in a home. And it is so easy to think that we are also experts in the field of death and dying. That type of education is a specialty that although some staff members have worked in we will make referrals to resources that can help people with their grief. Using the internet for local organizations is a good way to start. Here are some other ideas too. Community churches of all faiths, Hospice organizations both for and non-profit, grief centers, nature and of course, counselors. There is no limit on the support a person may need. When we deal with families it is understood that they are grieving. The loss of a loved one can reverberate through our actions making us feel unsteady and overwhelmed. Depending upon whom the person was in someone’s life also impacts the process of dealing with “the stuff”. Again, our staff are not counselors but we are mindful of the process that grief may take. For more information on resources you can call the office or email.

Link: Repurpose for a Lifetime

With every family, we see history and memories in the belongings they have accumulated. There is a sense of almost failure in the eyes of our clients when they believe the only disposition for the broken rocking chair from great grandma has to be the dump. That’s where our experienced team can help mitigate the discomfort of losing more in the process of clearing out a loved one’s home.

There are options! Here are a few examples:

One family had so many lithographs they said “we can’t take anymore into our home! but we don’t want them to go just anywhere”. So Trustee Help reviewed our intake form to find that the decedent was a long time volunteer at a local hospice. We donated two wonderful pieces to the organization on her behalf. The family was thrilled and so was the hospice organization.

Another way is to re-do the item. You can do it yourself or hire a professional. One local talent for this purpose is Marie Chan of Inter Space Design. She can rework many objects into useful and memorable items. This is one way to continue to treasure a loved one’s history. Check her out! http://interspace-design.com/blog/

Just when you think things are covered…something is usually just hanging out there. Perhaps more obvious to others but hard for us to see. For example, most of us think we have conveyed our ideas/wishes to loved ones about what to do in the event of emergency or death. Yet, most of us are blindsided with surprises after our loved one dies or is in the hospital. Where is the will? How about the POA? Who is to take care of the cat? Is the house in a reverse mortgage? Did Mom have an attorney?

Trustee Help observes the consequences of non-specific communication all too often. We frequently assist in locating important details by sorting through papers in cabinets, drawers and boxes looking for clues about the person’s life so that the trustee can perform vital duties. Banking, insurance, death certificates, credit cards, and house documents are just some of the information needed to finalize an estate.

Our teams will help families go through the personal and household belongings to ensure that information is found and that the tangible things go to the right place. Our services cover a wide variety of needs for our clients. No matter where you are, we can help.

Not only does Trustee Help, Inc. donate during the holiday season, we donate year round. We successfully use the good resources from estates and pass them on to organizations that will put them to good use.

However, there is a dark side……….

In the sorting areas of non-profits large and small there are piles and containers full of awful, dirty, broken things that were “Donated“. Its great to be help out, yet how useful is a torn up pair of socks? Or the chipped glassware? Seriously.

Non-profits need good socks, safe dishware and all of the generosity that we can give. They appreciate it and we feel good about helping community programs.

So the next time you consider donating think of the following guideline: